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Website - https://www.stowesmusic.co.uk/

The Stowes are a three-piece Celtic Folk Band from Cornwall, UK. who play traditional and self-penned folk songs and sea shanties and splice them with Jigs and Reels to create an up tempo, upbeat performance.

The Stowes play a stimulating mix of traditional folk, of mainly Cornish, Irish and Scottish origin, as well as rousing sea shanties with scintillating, foot stomping instrumental arrangements. Over the past 4 years The Stowes have performed over 250 live performances around the Duchy of Cornwall and around the UK.

They have also toured in America and played with such bands and performers as Bohola, Colleen Raney and Hanz Araki of The Press Gang. With a full-bodied combination of Piano Accordion, Bouzouki, 5 string banjo and Stomp Box, The Stowes are on a mission to re-invent Cornish Celtic music and present it to the world.

The Band

The trio of Calum, Tom and Kevin have been performing as The Stowes since 2012, but it has only been in the last 3 years that the band has gained traction, with 2018 being the first year that all members have been able to commit on a full-time basis.

Both Calum and Tom have served for over 10 years in the Merchant Navy and that combined with the trio growing up in the port of Padstow has shaped a sound with a strong maritime and Cornish identity. Cornwall, and Padstow in particular is well renowned for its Celtic heritage akin to that of Ireland and Scotland. As such, the Stowes are keen to create and promote a ‘Celtic Crossover’ which blurs geographical boundaries and enables listeners to experience the influences of all the Celtic nations spliced as one. As well as reinventing traditional music, the bands original material aims to present listeners with a unique and thoughtful insight into life at sea and growing up in Cornwall. Both are said to be pleasant and harsh simultaneously, but for very different reasons.

Reviews

“Fantastic band! Fantastic music! Amazing instrument playing. We’re mesmerised watching the accordionists fingers on the accordion! Fantastic vocals too. Saw them last year in GDSF, so pleased that they were back again this year. Thank you lads for a great show!” Kathryn Emery “We love you guys! Best band in all of Cornwall hands down! Thanks for coming to the Beer and Mussel's Festival!” Sarita Ester “Great fun at the Looe Music Festival. Thanks for Galway Girl. Dirty versions hilarious! Thanks for a great night xx” Betsy Harmony “Great at Polperro music festival and have seen you several times at the Ship Inn in Polperro. You always draw a good crowd and without fail it has been a fun event. Can't wait to see you play again” Victoria Moreau

Our version of the well known traditional folk song, The Good Ship Kangaroo. Both Tom and Calum in the band are ex-merchant sailors, so we have a strong passion for maritime based songs.